Group of nine Pakistani, Afghan men groomed white British schoolgirls for sex, using drink and drugs. PHOTO: AFP

LONDON:

A group of nine men of Pakistani and Afghan origin were sentenced to jail on Thursday for grooming white British schoolgirls for sex, using drink and drugs.

The men, aged between 22 and 59, were convicted on Wednesday of conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with children under the age of 16, and other related offences. Some of the girls were as young as 13 at the time.

Passing sentence at Liverpool Crown Court in northwest England, Judge Gerald Clifton gave them prison terms ranging from four to 19 years.

But as a lawyer for one of the men raised questions about the safety of the convictions, the case nonetheless triggered debate in Britain about “grooming” and men from the Pakistani community.

“All of you treated them as though they were worthless and beyond any respect,” Clifton told the defendants. “One of the factors leading to that was the fact that they were not part of your community or religion… some of you, when arrested, said it was triggered by race.”

The abuse took place in the market town of Rochdale outside Manchester in northwest England. The court heard the group gave their victims drink and drugs and “passed them around” for sex.

Eight members of the gang were of Pakistani origin. They included taxi drivers, a takeaway worker and a religious studies teacher. Some were married and fathers. The other gang member was a 22-year-old Afghan illegal immigrant. He and a 35-year-old Pakistani will be deported once they have served their sentences.

Clifton said the group had been “grooming and sexually exploiting” several young girls in vulnerable situations. Police said as many as 47 girls could have been victims. The man considered the ringleader, a 59-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, was jailed for a total of 19 years.

Reader Comments (3)

I guess this is also a propaganda against Pakistan and its people. No Pakistani can ever do such act. Well if my senses were to be trusted a sniff some Indo-zion conspiracy to malign Pakistan.. what say Zaid Hamid.

At first i never thought it seems possible as Pakistani for the way normal person is raised with value for women. But if you can look at our current morally bankrupt (political) leaders it just seems possible as Pakistani.

Try this: Dont flatter yourself with your pumped up theories. Rapists, perverts and filthy pedophiles do not have a nationality, just as murderers, cheaters, liars don’t. We never see on the newspapers white rapist/pedophile committed so and so. These scums should be given the highest sentence and we as a society should reflect on why our children consent to give away their virginity for sexual favors. Where were the parents? carers? There are sexual predators littered on the streets who look out for vulnerability, why are children trading sex for a packet of crisp? It’s lunacy from all angles.